Ibis Facts & Worksheets

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Ibises are long-legged wading birds in the Threskiornithidae family that live in wetlands, forests, and plains.

See the fact file below for more information on Ibis, or you can download our 30-page Ibis worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION

• The term “ibis” was the traditional word used for this group of birds in both Latin and Ancient Greek. The word “ibis” is also related to the Egyptian term “hab,” which means “sacred bird.”
• Ibises are further subclassified into 12 different genera, and 28 extant species of the bird are found across them. 

ANATOMY AND CHARACTERISTICS

• Ibises differ in appearance from one species to another. These wading birds average between 22 and 30 inches in length. 
• Despite differences in appearance, all ibis animals have football-shaped bodies with long legs and toes. 
• Ibises are related to herons and storks and feature a long, thin, downward-curved bill. Their long, down-curved bills search for food in mud and water. The bills of baby ibis are straight at birth and begin to curve downward around 14 days later. 
• Females are slightly smaller than males and have shorter bills.
• The color of ibises varies from species to species. Dietary habits and habitat also influence their coloring. Most ibises have bald heads or faces, and during the breeding season, the underlying skin turns a brilliant red.
• The beak of these wading birds is specially crafted to assist them in probing the ground for food. Because their nostrils are near the base of the bill rather than the tip, they may continue to breathe while probing. They don’t have to drop the food and take a closer look at it because they can recognize food they discover using sensitive feelers in their bills.

BEHAVIOR

• Ibis are usually silent in the majority of species. They can squeak, wheeze, or breathe noisily during the breeding season. Female ibises occasionally call their offspring using a distinctive sound.
• Ibises are social birds that frequently reside in big flocks. Flocks of ibises are most active throughout the day and spend their time eating, sleeping, and grooming. All living bird species are able to fly, and they travel in flocks from their roosting locations to their feeding locations and back. Sometimes they fly in straight lines in V-shaped formations. Ibises in flight can alternate between gliding and flapping while simultaneously beating their wings.

DIET

• These birds are opportunistic feeders, which means that as long as something is edible, they will consume it.
• They typically consume insect larvae, worms, shrimp, beetles, grasshoppers, small fish, and soft crustaceans, but generally seem to be more carnivorous. 
• They are essential in natural pest management because they prey on small insects and grubs. They often flock to areas affected by locust and other insect plagues.

REPRODUCTION AND LIFESPAN

• Individual flocks of ibises gather to form colonies during the breeding season. Every season, females typically lay three to five eggs, incubating for three to four weeks. Both parents alternately incubate the eggs during this time.
• The chicks commonly have brown, gray, or black down after hatching. Each chick is allowed to reach its head inside the mouth of its respective parent and retrieve regurgitated food as each adult feeds the chicks in turn. Ibis chicks typically fledge between 28 and 56 days after hatching, and between one and four weeks later, they are completely independent.
• Ibises have a lifespan ranging from 16 to 27 years.

HABITAT

• Except for the South Pacific islands, these birds are found in any warm (typically tropical to subtropical) region of the world. 
• They are most common in wetlands, but they can also be found in farmland, open meadows, grasslands, and forested areas. Although most ibis habitats are found at sea level, some ibis can be in mountainous regions.

SPECIES IN TAXONOMIC ORDER

• Threskiornis is a genus of wading birds in the Threskiornithidae family. The genus was established by G.R. Gray in 1842. This genus includes African sacred ibis, Malagasy sacred ibis, Australian white ibis, Straw-necked ibis, Réunion ibis, and Black-headed ibis. 
• The species are 75 cm long with white body plumage. Black covers the bald head, neck, and legs. The bill is substantial and curved. They are found in the warmer regions of the Old World, such as southern Asia, Australasia, and Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Pseudibis is a genus with two South-East Asian species in the ibis subfamily Threskiornithinae. Red-naped ibis and White-shouldered ibis are classified as members of this genus. Hodgson established the genus in 1844.
• Geronticus is a small genus in the ibis subfamily (Threskiornithinae). The northern bald ibises or waldrapp are in the Mediterranean, while the southern bald ibises are in subtropical Southern Africa. Johann Georg Wagler, a German naturalist, established the genus in 1832.
• Nipponia is a genus that has only one species. The crested ibis (Nipponia nippon), also known as the Japanese crested ibis, Asian crested ibis, or toki, is a large (78.5 cm (30.9) white-plumaged ibis native to eastern Asia. The genus was established by Reichenbach in 1850.
• Bostrychia is a genus of ibises in the Threskiornithidae family. Member species can be found in a variety of African countries. Olive ibis, São Tomé ibis, Spot-breasted ibis, Hadada ibis, and Wattled ibis are classified as a member of this genus. The genus was established by G.R. Gray in 1847.
• Theristicus is a genus of birds in the Threskiornithidae family. Plumbeous Ibis, Buff-necked ibis, Black-faced ibis, and Andean ibis are classified as members of this genus. They are found in South America’s open, grassy habitats. All have a long, decurved dark bill, relatively short reddish legs that do not extend past the tail in flight, and a gray back. Johann Georg Wagler, a German naturalist, established the genus Theristicus in 1832. 
• Cercibis is a genus that has only one species. The sharp-tailed is a type of ibis found in open wet savannas in northern South America. The genus was established by Wagler in 1832.
• Mesembrinibis is a genus that has only one species. The Green ibis, also known as the Cayenne ibis, breeds in Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and western Panama, as well as South America and northern Argentina. J.L. Peters established the genus in 1930.
• Phimosus is a genus that has only one species. The bare-faced ibis, also known as the whispering ibis, is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela. The genus was established by Wagler in 1832.
• Eudocimus is a genus of wading birds in the Threskiornithidae family. They are found in the warmer parts of the New World, with representatives ranging from the southern United States to Central America, the West Indies, and South America. This genus includes the American white ibis and the Scarlet ibis. Wagler discovered this genus in 1832.
• Plegadis is a genus of birds in the Threskiornithidae family. Glossy ibis, White-faced ibis, and Puna ibis are member species found on every continent except Antarctica. This genus was established by Kaup in 1829.
• Lophotibis is a genus that has only one species. The Madagascar ibis, also known as the Madagascar crested ibis, white-winged ibis, or crested wood ibis, is one of the giant birds in Madagascar. L. Reichenbach founded this genus. In the year 1853.
• Apteribis is an extinct genus of flightless birds in the ibis subfamily only found in the Pacific Ocean’s Hawaiian Islands. This genus includes the species A.glenos and A.brevis. In 1976, Olson and Wetmore described this genus.

CULTURE

• The African sacred ibis was a religious object of veneration in ancient Egypt, particularly associated with the deity Djehuty, also known in Greek as Thoth. He was responsible for writing, mathematics, measurement, time, the moon, and magic. Thoth is frequently depicted in artworks from the Late Period of Ancient Egypt as an ibis-headed man writing. Mitogenomic diversity in sacred ibis mummies suggests that ancient Egyptians captured wild birds rather than farmed them.
• Ibises were raised specifically for sacrificial purposes in Hermopolis, and archaeologists discovered the mummies of 1.5 million ibises in the Ibis Galleries at Saqqara.

PREDATORS AND THREATS

• Most ibis species are widespread and abundant throughout the world. Some, however, are considered endangered. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the Hermit ibis of Northern Africa and the Middle East as endangered.
• This species was once found throughout central and Southern Europe, Algeria, and Turkey, but it is now only found in Turkey and Morocco. 
• Nipponia Nippon, also known as the Japanese or crested ibis, was on the verge of extinction near the end of the twentieth century. Several species, including the giant ibis, dwarf olive ibis, Waldrapp or northern bald ibis, and white-shouldered ibis, are also listed as critically endangered.
• There are 28 species of ibis that are still alive and well today. Six species have become extinct, including two flightless birds, the Hawaiian apteribis and the Jamaican xenicibis, which had club-like wings.
• Depending on their habitat, ibises are preyed upon by various predators. Birds of prey, monkeys, crows, snakes, and iguanas are their common predators. Intense hunting, drainage of wetland habitats, pesticide use, and commercial logging of nesting sites are all factors that could have a negative impact on population levels. Ibis eggs and chicks also frequently fall out of nests.

Ibis Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Ibis across 30 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about the Ibis, long-legged wading birds in the Threskiornithidae family that live in wetlands, forests, and plains.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Ibis Facts 
2. Ibis Progress
3. Feed Us! Mom!
4. Sentence Maze
5. Ibis Anatomy
6. Ibis Connections
7. Ibis Paint
8. P Vocabulary
9. Three To Go
10. Ibis Point
11. Logo Making

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an ibis?

An ibis is a type of wading bird that can be found in many parts of the world, including Africa, Asia, and Australia. They have long legs and a long curved bill, and are often seen wading in shallow water or marshes in search of food.

What do ibises look like?

Ibises have a long, curved bill and long legs, and are typically white or gray in color. They also have a distinctive feathery crest on the back of their head.

What do ibises eat?

Ibises typically eat a variety of foods, including fish, frogs, insects, and crustaceans. They use their long, curved bill to probe in the mud for food.

Where do ibises live?

Ibises can be found in many parts of the world, including Africa, Asia, and Australia. They typically live in wetlands, such as marshes, swamps, and rivers.

Why are ibises important?

Ibises are important because they are part of the ecosystem and they help to control the population of insects, frogs and other small animals that they eat. They also help to control the population of fish and crustaceans by eating them. They also play a role in seed dispersal, helping to maintain and spread plant biodiversity.

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Link will appear as Ibis Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, January 11, 2023